Jalal al-Din's Struggle Against the Mongols

Mongols attacked the Khorazm-Shahs, and this time the level of battle was severe and bitter. Leadership is apparent in Jalal al-Din who effectively commands his forces encouraging them and outthinking the enemies through skillful warfare. Even though the Khwarazmians put up a strong fight, they are eventually overwhelmed, and many Mongolian force’s brutality is displayed. War brings a hostile attitude in Jalal al-Din’s relation with his father and he initiates to act independently to protect his people. As usual, Mathison focuses on developing characters’ backstories, and the episode is filled with scenes illustrating the harsh choices the characters have to make due to continuous warfare. 

 Thus, the events staged in the play show Jalal al-Din and his allies rallying their troops to evaluate their loss and determine their subsequent actions. The episode focuses on the Khwarazmian warriors’ tenacity and desire to continue fighting the Mongols, hinting at further battles to come. Jalal al-Din continues to attempt for alliances so as to increase power by appealing to the neighboring tribes and kingdoms. But trust is scarce has become a luxury and he needs to move through world of lies and dagger. This episode is also very much on the internal and personal costs of the struggle as it pertains to Jalal al-Din and his beloved servants, illustrating that the benefactors of empire building are not simply the empire builders themselves but rather legions of nameless multitude. 

 While Jalal al-Din is continuing his efforts to strengthen the power of the ruling dynasty and is actively forming the marriage connections that would ensure the Khwarazmians’ influence, internal conflicts within the Khwarazmian royal court remains an insurmountable problem for the ruler. New emerging strong and powerful figures with their own objectives put pressure on him and are in the process of overthrowing him. From this point they both become even more distant and the decisions of the Sultan make it clear that he does not want his son to become the ruler and instead continue to distance him from the throne. On the other hand, the Mongols are steadily drawing closer, their advance guards penetrating farther and farther into the domains of the Khwarazm-shah. Invasion attempts by Ali and Chor Sukht are again foiled by Jalal al-Din, who uses more clever strategies in battles. This must be yet another set-up for a large-scale climax at the show which will serve as the turning point for the series.